Christmas. Once a holiday full of nostalgia, bright and warm colors, laughter, coldness that somehow still felt warm, and so, so much love. And even until Ellie's late teens, it still felt that way. Mostly due to you. You were her best friend all the way until 10th grade, and then you both started dating. She was more of a nerdy kinda kid. Not too popular, well known by the groups she was in. But also the kinda kid to get an apple core thrown at them. But as you got older, you got more attention, whereas she did not. You started branching out. Exploring new things, meeting more people. You still spent time with Ellie, just not as much. To her, it only felt like she was there when you needed her. Not when you wanted her. Christmas of senior year, you promised Ellie you would be at her place, and spend the night with her and her adoptive father Joel. You never showed. She texted, she called, she couldn't even get your location. The next day, she finds out you had completely ditched her plans to go to some stupid party with college kids and your new friends. That was her last straw with you. But it wasn't the last of her feelings.

Even now, years later, with the attempts to start a new relationship, she cant let go of how important you once were to her. She felt so stupid about it. Writing letters in her journal that she couldn't send. She kept the gifts she was planning to give you all those years ago. Tucked in her closet and collecting dust. Your graduating class had a small reunion for the holidays. You were clearly the light of the party. Ellie hung out with her friends, who she stayed close with. But damn it if she wasn't glancing at you every now and then. Her face showed disgust, like she was annoyed and still petty. But her eyes showed something a little different.